By Spencer Seymour, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Recently, I had the pleasure to return to St. Marys DCVI, the high school from which I graduated, to serve as an adjudicator for two drama class plays.
First up was the grade nine performance of “Check, Please!”, a comedic play focusing on some truly terrible blind dates. What was most impressive to me about this performance is, typically, it is a play reserved for senior high school students. However, not only did the grade nines do it, they did it very well. From the on-stage performers to the students working the sound and lighting, the grade nines far surpassed the expectations of what a grade nine drama class should be capable of doing.
The following week, I visited the grade 10/11/12 mixed-senior class for a play called “The Audition.” This play contains opportunities for multiple emotions. It is comedic, emotional, and dramatic in different places. And the students, regardless of which emotion they needed to portray, did so beyond effectively. There were moments that I needed to bite my lip to stop from laughing out loud, while there were other moments that would bring a tear to the eye of even the most jaded and cynical viewer.
Even though these students may not get the chance to perform these plays in front of a live audience of parents and guests — which I feel so bad about considering how excellent both shows were — everyone should be aware of how well both classes did. Even with pandemic-imposed challenges like mask-wearing, everyone, whether you know one or more of the students involved or not, should take pride in the talents of the DCVI drama classes. Congratulations to all of the performers and behind-the-scenes talent for two very well-done plays.